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Parenting

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Original poster

Okay for new born to see himself in a mirror ?

52 replies

lozrobin · 01/05/2011 20:36

Apologies on putting two posts up in quick succession but seems great forum - have a 4 week old boy Robin and he has been given a few toys with mirrors on them, I remember hearing something ages ago that a baby shouldn't see themselves in a refelection until they are a certain age - is there anything in that or am I just not remembering something correctly ? If so what age is it ?

Many thanks,

Lawrence

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sunchild77 · 01/05/2011 20:38

I think its more likely that they "can't" see themselves rather than they "shouldn't" Im not sure that the eyes have developed enough (someone correct me) I think they can't understand/realise that they can "see" themselves.

I might be wrong though..

HerRoyalHighnessPrincessCervix · 01/05/2011 20:38

why the chuff not? think it through logically. or will a baby spontaneously combust if they see a reflection of themselves?

catsareevil · 01/05/2011 20:38

There is no problem with them seeing themselves in a mirror. What you have probably read about is that at first they wont be able to know that they are looking at themselves.

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motherinferior · 01/05/2011 20:38

I think you're getting babies mixed up with vampires (who don't show up in mirrors).

Or possibly with the fact that in a while, when he can focus and recognise a baby in the mirror, he'll think it's another baby.

At the moment, he probably won't be able to focus on the mirror but he won't come to any harm.

motherinferior · 01/05/2011 20:40

THey are quite like vampires, of course, being prone to draining your life force yet strangely compelling, but if you wave him in front of a mirror you should be able to check his human status.

(Some of them, like DD1, have fringes of hair round their ears but I've never had any proof of them being werewolves either. Although, again, I was tempted to confuse them what with the loud baying at the moon.)

SomethingSuper · 01/05/2011 20:41

I mean this in the nicest possible way; this thread has really cheered me up for it's lovely innocence and niceness after some of the stuff I've just read elsewhere. Especially the baby/vampire confusion

Onefunmum · 01/05/2011 20:42

@ motherinferior
was thinking along the vampire line too...!

HerRoyalHighnessPrincessCervix · 01/05/2011 20:42

i think DD1 was an imp. had that strange scaly skin. and also didn't recognise herself in a mirror

ShowOfHands · 01/05/2011 20:43

It's ancient folklore. The idea that a soul can become trapped in a mirror (so if you break one, you break your soul and get 7yrs bad luck). People similarly warn against babies being allowed to look in mirrors or allowing uncovered mirrors in the house following a death (in case the soul is trapped).

It's as scientific as Bloody Mary so no, it's probably okay unless you're worried about woo in general.

onepieceofcremeegg · 01/05/2011 20:43

Congratulations on your new baby. :)

How lovely, just 4 weeks old.

I am fairly sure both of mine saw themselves in a mirror, there are mirrors in lots of places and I bet I was brushing my hair/holding them whilst glancing in a mirror at some point. He will be fine. :)

greensnail · 01/05/2011 20:43

My grandma apparently used to say you shouldn't let a baby look in a mirror, I don't know the reason why. She also used to say you shouldn't tickle their feet or they'd go mad.

Mine both seem ok so far despite lots of mirror looking and foot tickling.

LeroyJethroGibbs · 01/05/2011 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SybilBeddows · 01/05/2011 20:44

I think it's just that when babies are new you are so frazzled and sleep deprived that if you hold him up in front of a mirror you are liable to think you've had twins.

LynetteScavo · 01/05/2011 20:45

7 years of age.

Do not let your child look into a mirror until 7 years of age.

It is not unknown for children to be able to see into their own future reflected in the mirror if they perchance to catch their reflection at a tender age.

This is why most mirrors in houses are up high, about the height of a small child.

Bless.

LifeInTheSlowLane · 01/05/2011 20:55

oh I love this thread! I remember DH forever putting spots on DS1's face when he was a toddler then sticking him in front of the mirror to see if he would try to rub the spot off himself or the "other" baby in the mirror (this is a proper scientific self recognition test thingummy - can't remember the name for it). I seemed to spend a lot of time cleaning sticky fingerprints off mirrors .

monkymom · 01/05/2011 20:57

This thread has really made me laff

Tee2072 · 01/05/2011 20:59

Aw, bless. Yes, unless the baby is a vampire (does it already have pointy teeth? ) mirrors are not a problem.

Original poster

lozrobin · 01/05/2011 21:03

Cool thanks - thought so as a lot of the toys seem to have mirrors, thanks for all quick replies.

OP posts:

NoTeaForMe · 01/05/2011 21:51

Love it.....on the same topic though - when do babies realise that the baby in the mirror is them? My 6 month old loves looking at heself and finds the whole thing hilarious...when will she know it's her? I can remember those experiments with the dot on the nose too and seem to remember that chimpanzees are the same!!

ginmakesitallok · 01/05/2011 21:55

This thread has cheered me up too - but it's also reminded me of when my Granda died and my Gran turned all the mirrors round - I must only have been about 8 or so, had never remembered it til now.

LynetteScavo · 02/05/2011 08:04

LifeInTheSlowLane, I did the sticky spot on the nose thing with DS1.

Was a pone DH at work moment when he pulled the sticker off his nose.

wolfhound · 02/05/2011 08:07

i think when you have a new baby it's probably more important that YOU don't look in a mirror (unless you are a lot better groomed than i was :) )

redundanttiara · 02/05/2011 10:15

I think the baby will be OK but whatever you do, do not look at yourself in the mirror after a middle-of-the-night-will-it-never-ever-end feed. I still have flashbacks of the wild haired, red-eyed monster staring back at me - on the plus side, I didn't need a middle of the night wee for months after that.

pookamoo · 02/05/2011 19:33

I think there is something in Steiner philosophy about not letting babies look in mirrors but someone else will no doubt elaborate. I don't believe in it, though.

PoppyDoolally · 02/05/2011 19:35

qhat wolfhound said!!!

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